PLDT Group Brings Connectivity and Relief Support to Earthquake-Affected Communities

To help support critical communications following the recent earthquake in southern Mindanao, PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the PLDT Group, has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the local government units of General Santos, Saranggani, and South Cotabato, to deploy Starlink connectivity in key Mindanao hospitals, now operational at the Malungon Sarangani Provincial Hospital, Alabel Sarangani Provincial Hospital. The deployment forms part of the Group's communications-as-aid initiatives to support emergency response and recovery efforts in affected communities.

Together with its social outreach arm, PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), PLDT and Smart have begun distributing the first tranche of relief assistance to affected families. The assistance includes food packs, potable water, and hot meals. Libreng Tawag (including free NDD calls), Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi services also remain available in General Santos City; Glan, Sarangani; and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Smart and TNT subscribers in affected areas also received emergency load assistance to help them communicate with loved ones and access important information.
The Group continues to work closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), DRRMOs, local government units, government agencies, and community partners in ongoing relief efforts. Personnel are working around the clock to provide communications support where needed while prioritizing the safety of employees and facilities. Through its #KonektedforResilience advocacy, the Group helps communities stay informed, supported, and connected during emergencies.

Globe Restores Services Across Southern Mindanao Following Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake

Globe has successfully restored telecommunications services in 31 out of the 32 municipalities affected by the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao, demonstrating its commitment to keeping communities connected during times of crisis.

The telecommunications provider reported that full service restoration has already been achieved in several provinces and regions, including Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, South Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. This rapid recovery effort has helped residents reconnect with loved ones, access critical information, and coordinate relief and recovery activities in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake.

Globe continues to work around the clock to restore services in the remaining affected municipality. Restoration teams remain actively deployed in the area, particularly in locations where ongoing commercial power interruptions continue to affect telecommunications facilities and network operations.

To support affected residents, Globe immediately activated its Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, at Libreng Wi-Fi (LTLCLW) stations in General Santos City. These free communication hubs provide essential services, allowing residents to make calls, charge their mobile devices, and access internet connectivity during the emergency situation.

As part of its #AlagangGlobe disaster response program, the company also rolled out free satellite connectivity support in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. The initiative includes free satellite-based data and SMS services for eligible customers in areas where traditional communication infrastructure may have been disrupted by the earthquake.

Beyond restoring connectivity, Globe is also extending humanitarian assistance to affected communities. Through its partnership with Ayala Foundation, the company has already distributed initial relief assistance to residents impacted by the disaster. Additional support is on the way, with plans to deploy 1,300 more relief packs beginning June 16.

The distribution effort will be carried out through the #BrigadangAyala program and in partnership with WAABC Davao, helping ensure that aid reaches communities that have been heavily affected by the earthquake. These relief packs are expected to provide essential supplies to families as they begin the process of recovery and rebuilding.

Globe's comprehensive response highlights the critical role telecommunications companies play during emergencies. By restoring network services, providing free connectivity solutions, and supporting relief operations, the company continues to help affected communities stay connected and resilient during one of Southern Mindanao's most challenging times.

As recovery efforts continue, Globe remains committed to ensuring reliable communication services and extending assistance to those who need it most.

YGG Play and Planetarium Labs Launch New Nine Chronicles Game, Ragnarok Breaker

YGG Play, the publishing arm of Yield Guild Games (YGG), has officially launched Ragnarok Breaker, a web-based roguelike auto-shooter set in the Nine Chronicles universe. Created by Planetarium Labs, the same game developer behind Nine Chronicles, Ragnarok Breaker drew more than 3,000 pre-registrations, with 58% sign-ups from referrals, demonstrating strong anticipation among Web3 gaming guilds ahead of the launch.

Ragnarok Breaker is built around five Meta Tags, each defining a different combat approach, including projectile damage, area control, and explosive critical hits. Build identity is determined by Wave Shop choices rather than character class, meaning two players can start a run identically and finish with completely different builds.

Items progress across four tiers to Legendary Crowns, named for Norse artifacts such as Mjolnir and Gungnir, that reshape how a build functions rather than just raising its numbers. A total of 42 collectible pets deploy up to 10 at a time, running as a second build layer alongside item synergies. Two endgame modes also ship at launch. Valhalla Trials is an endless PVE gauntlet, while League is a score-based PVP competition with Ruby Coin rewards.

As Ragnarok Breaker’s publishing partner, YGG Play provides go-to-market support, player acquisition, and community growth through the YGG Play Launchpad, which established the Casual Degen category of crypto-native casual games.

“The impressive pre-registration interest we’ve seen from competitive guilds is a testament to YGG Play’s user acquisition engine and deep community network,” said JC Kim, CEO of Planetarium Labs. “By pairing our Verse8 AI-native infrastructure with YGG’s distribution strength, we can rapidly scale polished Web3 experiences to meet this demand. Seeing our development speed match YGG’s community momentum at launch proves how powerful this collaborative model is for the future of onchain gaming.”

Ragnarok Breaker is the second official IP expansion of Nine Chronicles, an onchain MMORPG with an active NCG token economy, and the first built entirely on Verse8, an AI-native game creation platform. Verse8 demonstrated its development pace by shipping a complete 3D shooter from a single prompt in three days. Earlier this year, YGG Play and Verse8 co-hosted the Casual Degen track of BuidlHack 2026 at Korea Buidl Week, where 120 teams submitted vibe-coded prototypes in under a month, with standout projects under review for publication by YGG Play.

YGG guilds that have previously played Nine Chronicles include Allgud, NFT X-Street, Synergy Guild, Sando, and AxU, with members drawn in by its idle mechanics that kept progress moving and spending on in-game items along the way.

Activity surged when the game was featured on the first questing platform developed by YGG, the Guild Advancement Program (GAP), which ended after 10 seasons in August 2025. Nine Chronicles drew 11,723 quest sign-ups in GAP Season 6, ranking second among all eight of the featured games, and returned for Season 7. Ragnarok Breaker extends the Nine Chronicles universe into a faster, more accessible format and opens a new competitive entry point for guilds already inside it.

“Ragnarok Breaker shows the power of expanding a strong IP like Nine Chronicles into new, accessible formats,” said Gabby Dizon, co-founder of YGG. “YGG Play is built as a launchpad where developers keep full ownership of their IP, which flips the traditional publisher model on its head. Planetarium Labs has built a great ecosystem here, and now it's time to let the players take over.”

The Philippine Franchise Association Integrates GCash for Business Digital Finance and Business Solutions for Filipino MSMEs at Asia’s Largest Franchise Expo

The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and GCash for Business have once again partnered to strengthen access to digital payments and business solutions for Filipino entrepreneurs at Franchise Asia Philippines 2026, Asia's largest franchise exhibition and the country's leading gathering of franchisors, franchisees, and growth-focused business owners.

Franchise Asia Philippines 2026 drew over 1,000 participating brands and more than 50,000 trade visitors under one roof. This year's edition carried added significance as PFA marked its 30th anniversary under the theme "Franchising Together: ASEAN to the World", underscoring the industry's collective approach to growth and reflecting the Bayanihan spirit that defines Filipino entrepreneurship. This direction also aligns with the broader push of GCash for a more inclusive digital economy.

Franchising has become an increasingly popular path for aspiring entrepreneurs, offering a more accessible way to start a business with established systems and expert support. Yet while MSMEs make up 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines and remain a key driver of employment and local commerce, many franchisees and small business owners still rely on manual or fragmented systems, making it harder to track cash flow, separate personal and business finances, and plan for growth. As more Filipinos explore franchising as a viable livelihood, the need for simple, reliable, and integrated financial tools becomes even more critical.

To address this gap, GCash for Business engaged merchants on-site at Franchise Asia Philippines, providing product demonstrations, onboarding assistance, and guidance on digital payment adoption.

"Franchise Asia allows us to connect directly with the entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of Filipino businesses. Being here on the ground, we see firsthand how the right financial tools that are accessible, simple, and built for scale can make a real difference in how MSMEs start, run, and grow. Our goal with GCash for Business is to make sure no entrepreneur is left behind in the digital economy," shared GCash for Business general manager, Paul Albano.

Featured solutions include GCash SoundPay Plus for audio payment confirmation and GCash EasyPOS, an all-in-one device for card and QR payments. The GCash for Business Portal offers centralized transaction monitoring, while GLoan for Business provides credit support up to PHP 2 million to manage cash flow and expansion.

Through the GCash for Business Franchisee Bundle, franchisors streamlined the onboarding of new franchisees from registration through activation, ensuring operational consistency across expanding networks. Merchants also gained access to business development resources, including design support, social media training, and marketing workshops.

Through its "Finance for All" commitment, GCash for Business continues to democratize financial solutions for Filipino MSMEs, ultimately helping grassroots merchants improve efficiency, enable secure transactions, and unlock broader growth opportunities.

To get started, merchants can sign up via the GCash for Business Portal at business.gcash.com.

Watch the NBA Championships Like Never Before with LG AI TVs

For basketball fans, the NBA Championships are among the most exciting sporting events of the year. Every fast break, clutch three-pointer, and game-winning shot deserves to be experienced in the best possible quality. LG AI TVs are designed to help viewers enjoy every moment of the action with advanced features that enhance convenience, connectivity, and overall viewing quality.

One of the biggest advantages of LG AI TVs is the variety of ways users can access NBA Championship games. Viewers can watch live broadcasts through built-in streaming applications available on the TV, eliminating the need for additional hardware. Those who prefer other viewing methods can also connect external devices such as streaming sticks, gaming consoles, or cable boxes, providing flexibility based on individual preferences.

LG AI TVs also make it easier to share content from other devices. With support for Apple AirPlay and screencasting technologies, users can seamlessly stream games, highlights, player interviews, and sports analysis from smartphones, tablets, and laptops directly to the TV screen. This feature allows fans to quickly switch from watching highlights on a mobile device to enjoying them on a larger display without interruptions.

To further enhance sports viewing, LG offers a dedicated Sports Mode. This feature automatically adjusts picture and sound settings to suit fast-paced sports content. Motion handling is optimized to reduce blur during rapid gameplay, helping viewers keep track of the ball and player movements more clearly. Audio enhancements also help create a more immersive atmosphere, bringing the excitement of the arena into the living room.

Another standout feature is LG’s AI-powered voice control. Instead of manually searching through menus, users can simply use voice commands to find NBA games, check schedules, explore highlights, or discover related sports content. This intelligent functionality works seamlessly with the LG webOS smart platform, which provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for accessing entertainment and live sports content.

The combination of AI technology, smart connectivity, and sports-focused enhancements makes LG AI TVs a compelling choice for basketball enthusiasts. Whether watching a live NBA Championship game, streaming highlights from a mobile device, or exploring post-game analysis, users can enjoy a more convenient and engaging experience.

As sports entertainment continues to evolve, LG AI TVs are helping fans stay connected to the action with innovative features designed to deliver a flexible, immersive, and enjoyable home viewing experience for every NBA Championship moment.